Street naming and numbering policy

We, Scarborough Borough Council, have a legal responsibility to ensure that streets are named and properties numbered. We are the only organisation with the authority to name and number new streets and properties within the borough.

We therefore have the power to approve or reject property and street addresses that are submitted by developers or other parties.

The address of a property is very important. Appropriate naming of streets, and naming and numbering of buildings is essential for:

visitors to find where they want to go

delivery of post by the Royal Mail and courier services

fast responses to emergencies by ambulance, police, and fire services

record keeping e.g. index to the National Land and Property Gazetteer, legal transactions, taxation and planning permissions.

It is also important that property names and numbers are appropriate and are clearly displayed so that the public and service providers can quickly and easily locate a property and its entrance.

We are consulting on a street naming and numbering policy which sets out naming and numbering conventions to ensure that all properties have addresses which are unique and unambiguous. The policy also aims to ensure that approach to the naming of roads and streets is consistent.

The policy sets out the correct process and rules for the following:

Naming of new streets and numbering properties on those streets

Renaming an existing street or renumbering all existing properties on an existing street

Registering a new property/properties on an existing street

Allocation of numbers to properties with names only

Allocation of house names or changing house names to properties with or without a postal number